The Seattle University men’s basketball team was unable to maintain its performance level from the previous game, as San Diego State pulled away quickly and earned a 75-56 victory Friday night in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.
Normally the team’s leading rebounder, senior Michael Wright (Lakewood, Wash.) was the leading Seattle University scorer in the game with 12 points, plus he pulled down six rebounds. Austen Powers (Glendale, Ariz.) struggled from the field but still finished with eight points, ten rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Coming off the bench, Leigh Swanson (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) and Aaron Broussard (Federal Way, Wash.) each scored nine points, combining to shoot 8-for-11 from the field, with Broussard also pulling down six rebounds.
The game got off to a slow start offensively, as it took almost four minutes before the first points of the contest were scored. After Wright hit a three-pointer with 8:39 left before halftime to pull SeattleU within one at 12-11, the Aztecs outscored the Redhawks 24-10 over the rest of the first half to establish a comfortable lead.
San Diego State (4-1) scored the first nine points of the second half to increase its lead further to 45-21 and seemed to be ready to cruise to the victory. Seattle University cut the Aztec lead to 14 at 58-44 with a 9-0 run midway through the second half, but San Diego State held the Redhawks at bay to pick up the victory.
For the Aztecs, Kyle Spain shot 6-of-9 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from the three-point line, to lead all players with 15 points. Ryan Amoroso shot 4-of-5 from the field, including making his only three-point attempt, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line to contribute 13 points, and Mehdi Cheriet came off the bench and scored 11 points in the game.
Seattle University hung with San Diego State on the boards, but was hurt by 35.8 percent field goal shooting. San Diego State shot 71.4 percent from the field in the second half, including 4-of-4 from the three-point line.
Seattle University (4-2) will head to the third-place game Saturday evening, facing defending Big Sky champion Portland State, on the wrong end of a 77-71 overtime game with Hampton University, at 5:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. Pacific time). Due to a prior commitment, FSN Northwest will not show the SeattleU-Portland State game, but SU fans will still be able to hear the audio broadcast live on KKNW 1150 AM.